Hand eczema is common in school-aged children, especially with frequent handwashing and sanitizer use. Good routines prevent cracks and infections.
How it looks
- Dry, rough, red patches on backs of hands, between fingers, or wrists.
- Itch, stinging, or burning; small blisters in some kids; painful cracks in winter.
Common triggers
- Frequent washing/sanitizer, cold dry air, friction from paper/crafts.
- Fragranced soaps, classroom cleaners, markers/paints, glove sweat.
- Underlying atopic dermatitis (eczema) elsewhere.
Daily school-safe routine
- Wash with lukewarm water; use a small amount of gentle, fragrance-free soap only when visibly dirty. Otherwise, use alcohol-based sanitizer with moisturizers.
- Pat dry—don’t rub.
- Moisturize after every wash and before recess and at dismissal:
- Keep a travel-size fragrance-free cream in backpack/desk.
- Choose thicker creams/ointments (ceramides, petrolatum, glycerin, shea). Avoid strong scents.
- Overnight “repair”: apply a generous layer of ointment (e.g., petrolatum) and cotton gloves for 30–60 minutes or overnight if tolerated.
Treating flares
- Use prescribed steroid cream/ointment twice daily on red, inflamed areas for 5–10 days, then stop when clear.
- For sensitive areas or frequent flares, clinician may recommend non-steroid anti-inflammatories (tacrolimus/pimecrolimus) for maintenance.
- If tiny blisters and intense itch (dyshidrotic eczema), cool compresses and appropriate-strength steroids help.
Reducing irritants at school/home
- Provide a note for teacher/nurse: allow child to use personal gentle soap/moisturizer.
- Rinse off glue/paint with lukewarm water; moisturize right after.
- For cleaning or wet projects >10 minutes, use cotton glove liners under nitrile gloves.
- At home, avoid hot water and fragranced products; use fragrance-free detergent.
Watch for infection
- Yellow crust, pus, increasing pain, red streaks, or fever—seek care.
- Early treatment prevents worsening and missed school days.
When to see a clinician
- No improvement with good routine in 1–2 weeks.
- Painful cracks limiting activities.
- Recurrent severe flares—consider patch testing for contact allergies.
Kid-friendly checklist
- Wash smart, pat dry.
- Moisturize right after.
- Ointment at night when flared.
- Tell an adult if hands burn or crack.